Employment

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that state and local governments added an estimated 29,000 jobs in September 2024. Revisions to the two previous months' reports added an estimated 130,000 jobs to the running total. September marks the 32nd consecutive month in which aggregate state and local employment was stable or increased.

As of September 2024 state and local employment has surpassed its February 2020 peak by 406,000 jobs.  

The BLS identifies approximately 20.4 million employees of state and local government as of September 2024. Local governments, which include most school districts, account for nearly three-quarters of total state and local employment, with state governments accounting for around one-quarter of the total. Overall, state and local employment accounts for approximately 13 percent of the nation's workforce.

The private sector added an estimated 223,000 jobs in September 2024.

The charts below present the relative changes in state and local government and private sector employment since 2007.

Monthly changes in state and local government
and private sector employment, 2007-2024

Monthly changes in state and local government employment, 2007-2024

Compiled by NASRA based on data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data is sourced from the BLS Current Employment Statistics program, which is a monthly survey of households, businesses, and governments measuring employment, hours, and earnings estimates. The CES survey reference period is the pay period that includes the 12th day of the month. Data are published on a preliminary basis and revised twice before being finalized. 

See more: https://www.bls.gov/ces/